More away day disappointment for Albion

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Manchester United 3, Albion 0: Early goals costly as Seagulls suffer fifth loss in six WSL away games.

Bruce Talbot

2025-01-26T20:30+00:00

Nikita Parris tries to elude the challenge of Maya Le Tissier. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

Albion’s poor form on the road in the WSL continued with a 3-0 loss to fourth-placed Manchester United on Sunday night.

A fifth defeat out of six always looked on the cards after United took a 2-0 lead inside 11 minutes through Ella Toone and Hinata Miyazawa. Sophie Baggaley denied her former club on a number of occasions in the first half before Albion improved after a triple change at the break. However, Celine Bizet made the points safe with a long-range strike midway through the second period.

Nikita Parris had their best chance but volleyed over and Albion remain fifth, ahead of Spurs on goal difference. And having now played the top four away they will look to improve their fortunes on the road in the remaining months of the season.

Substitute Pauline Bremer is challenged by Jade Riviere. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

New signing Caitlin Hayes was named on the bench as Dario Vidosic made three changes to the team beaten by Liverpool last time out in the WSL with Maria Thorisdottir, Jelena Cancovic and Mady Haley coming into the team.

Albion made the worst possible start, going behind after two minutes. Elisabeth Terland won the ball high up and played in Toone, who scored her fifth goal in four games with a right-foot finish into the bottom corner, although Baggaley may feel it was a shot she should have saved.

Madison Haley looks for a way forward. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

United hadn’t lost any of the last 14 games when they had scored first – underlining the enormity of Albion’s task - and it became even more of an uphill battle when they conceded again in the 11thminute. Toone laid a free-kick into the path of Hinata Miyazawa and although her first shot was blocked she drilled the rebound left-footed into the far corner, giving Baggaley no chance.

United defender Gabby George had already produced two hefty challenges on Haley when she clattered into the American from behind again and was booked but Albion were struggling to get any sort of foothold in the game and Terland forced Baggaley to dive to her right to push out the Norwegian’s effort from the corner of the penalty area. Baggaley was happy to see Leah Galton’s shot curl just over before Toone exploited the space inside the Albion box to test Baggaley with a volley.

Maria Thorisdottir challenges Dominique Janssen. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

Galton was inches away from converting a great cross by Jade Rivera and Terland was denied by Baggaley but there was a glimpse of what Albion could do when they broke United’s press in the 44th minute. Parris got away from deep in her own half and picked out Bruna Vilamala eight yards out but the Spaniard squandered Albion’s best chance of the half without getting a shot away.

Vidosic made a triple change at the break, bringing on Pauline Bremer, Jorelyn Carabali and Maisie Symonds and it made a difference as Albion improved in midfield and push forward. On 56 minutes Jelena Cancovic’s corner was flicked on by Thorisdottir but Parris was under pressure and volleyed over from close range.

Rachel McLauchlan tries to go past Gabby George.

Albion were much more of a threat in the second half but there was nothing Baggaley could do when Bizet made it 3-0 in the 69th minute. She won the ball in midfield and then cracked a left-foot shot into the top corner from 25 yards.

Symonds’ free kick from similar distance at the other end curled wide of the left-hand post and Bremer couldn’t quite finish a move started by the hardworking Parris as Albion looked in vain for a consolation in the closing stages.

Albion are back in action on Wednesday at home to Durham in the fourth round of the Adobe FA Cup.

Albion: Baggaley, Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Pattinson, McLauchlan, Losada (Symonds 45), Bruna (Bremer 45), Olislagers (Carabali 45), Cancovic (Stefanovic 86), Parris, Haley (Agyemang 74).